The No. 4 Wisconsin women's hockey team swept Ohio State-one of only three teams to beat the Badgers this year-in decisive fashion this weekend, defeating the Buckeyes 6-3 on Friday night and 7-2 on Saturday at the Kohl Center.
In their last home series of the season, the Badgers (16-7-1 Western Collegiate Hockey Association, 22-7-1 overall) displayed a powerful offensive attack as they notched 13 goals in the two contests against the Ohio State Buckeyes (11-14-1 WCHA, 14-14-2 overall).
Wisconsin got on the board first Friday night when junior forward Grace Hutchins got her own rebound and slipped it past Ohio State sophomore goaltender Erika Vanderveer. The goal was the first of two for Hutchins.
Ohio State evened the score minutes later when senior forward Jeni Creary's backhand shot snuck between the legs of Wisconsin junior goaltender Meghan Horras.
The score remained tied until junior forward Nikki Burish scored a power play goal on a rebound from senior forward Jackie Friesen's shot, and less than half a minute later freshman forward Jinelle Zaugg scored the first of her two goals on a pass from junior forward Cyndy Kenyon.
\Cyndy had an awesome pass, I just put my stick down and she bounced it off my stick,"" Zaugg said of the goal.
Zaugg notched her second goal minutes into the second period with a wrist shot from the top of the circles, using the Ohio State defender as a screen on the goalie.
Hutchins picked up her second goal of the game while Wisconsin sophomore forward Lindsay Macy sat in the penalty box for slashing. The short-handed goal put the Badgers up 5-1, a score that stood for less than a minute before Ohio State freshman forward Jody Heywood powered a loose puck into the back of the net, moving the score to 5-2.
The third period started with a bang for the Buckeyes. Freshman defender Lisa Chesson dumped the puck on net from outside the blue line and the bouncing puck found its way through Horras' five hole and into the net.
Wisconsin junior forward Sharon Cole deflated any hopes of an Ohio State comeback when she tipped a Macy shot into the net for the team's sixth goal of the contest.
Wisconsin's seniors had a lot to play for in Saturday night's game, the last regular season game for them at the Kohl Center, and senior night. In recognition of the seniors, head coach Mark Johnson started all five of them. A hat trick by senior Friesen and strong play by the other seniors led the Badgers to a 7-2 victory.
""It's an emotional night for them, but it's a night that they'll remember for a long time,"" Johnson said.
Badger senior defender Nicole Uliasz and Friesen both scored goals in the first period. Friesen's goal came with only four seconds left in the period, giving them momentum and a two-goal lead at the break.
Friesen picked up her second goal early in the second period on a pass from Macy; senior defender and captain Carla MacLeod also had an assist on the goal. Hutchins continued her strong play, notching a goal midway through the second period on a nice backdoor pass from Zaugg.
Ohio State senior forward Meaghan Mulvaney scored a power play goal at the end of the second period to bring the score to 4-1.
The Buckeyes picked up another goal early in the third period, but that would be the last goal the stingy Wisconsin defense would give up.
Macy was awarded a penalty shot after being tripped on a breakaway. Macy ripped a slap shot at Ohio State senior goaltender Melissa Glaser's five hole, but Glaser made the save.
Jackie Friesen completed her hat trick, and Zaugg and Cole each added a goal, to end the game with a 7-2 victory.
""I wanted to play well tonight, and I wanted our whole team to play well, and we did, so I think it's exciting,"" Friesen said of her last home game as a Badger.
